"To all who come to this happy place; welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past ... and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams and the hard facts that have created America ... with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world."- Walt Disney

Disneyland, the Happiest Place on Earth, turns 59 today.

For a place that wasn't supposed to last more than a few months -- or so "the experts" said -- Walt's amusement enterprise, where parents and children could have fun together, has done quite well, thank you.

Disneyland is truly a special place. It remains relevant in today's ever-changing world and a major force in the entertainment industry.

The last time I visited Disneyland, I had the unique pleasure of walking down Main Street with none other than Marty Sklar, who enjoyed more than five decades in Disney's employ.

Marty was in the park on opening day and, in fact, has had a hand in one way or another, with the development of all 11 Disney parks worldwide.

It was Marty who said this about Disneyland when I spoke with him in 2011:

"With all the things we've done around the world -- and seeing the reaction of people, basically the same everywhere in the world -- Disneyland is where the heart is. I definitely feel that way."